Water-pipe system for houses



(No Model.)

E. W. GILBS. WATER PIPE SYSTEM FOR HOUSES. No. 580,184. Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

INVENTQR l ATTQR'NEY.

o d L. c. .M 9, ,o l m 0 m m L1 U8? N UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEo EDIVARD IVALTER GILES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

WATER-PIPE SYSTEM FOR HOUSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,184, dated April 6, 1897.

Application tiled J'une 18, 1896.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit kn own that LEDWAED WALTER GILEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tater-Pipe Systems for Houses, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to an improved dry water-pipe system for houses.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of water-supply pipes and safety cut-off valves by means of which the distributing-pipes throughout the house maybe kept empty except at the time water is lbeing drawn. In this system no cock or spigot is employed at the discharge-nozzle, but a controlling-valve is employed for each pipe and located in the cellar or basement of the house or any place above a few inches of lowest drainage-level. Said controlling-valve serves to turn on the water to the pipe which has the dischargenozzle, to cutit off, and also to drain or empty the said pipe.

In order to make the invention clearly understood, I have shown one form of the same in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation showinga stationary washbowl, hot and cold water pipes leading thereto, the controlling-valves, and means for operating same. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a controlling-valve, showing it in the open position to supply water. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the valve in the closed or cutoff position, as when draining the pipe. Fig. 4 shows a side view in section of a valve. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the crank-sprocket.

This invention is applicable to dwellinghouses, storehouses, or other structures, and to the first, second, third, or other oors of such buildings.

For the purpose of illustration the system is here shown as it may be applied to an upper floor of a house and in connection with an ordinary stationary water-bowl.

The letter A designates the main cold-water manifold, and A the hot-water manifold leading from an ordinary circulating-boiler, (not shown,) and A2 the service or supply pipe. The washbowl B is supposed to be located in a room on the upper floor. A coldwater pipe d leads from the manifold A and Serial No. 595,956. (No model.)

terminates in an always-open discharge-nozzle d over the washbowl, and in like manner a hot-water pipe e leads from the manifold A and terminates in an always open discharge-nozzle e over the washbowl. No cock or spigot is employed, as is ordinarily the case, in near relation to either of the said discharge-nozzles d e. The valves which control the water in the distributing or nozzle pipes d e are located, preferably, in the cellar or basement or as near as possible to the lowest drainage-level of the premises, where they are secured from freezing in winter. The entire pipe above said valves is drained or freed from water and kept normally empty. These valves are designated by the letters F F'. As the valves are both alike, except being right and left action, a description of one of them will be sufficient.

The valve-case has two screw connections g g' for attachment to the pipe and a third connection h for attachment of a drain-tube h', which leads to the main waste-pipe C. This drain-tube is in two parts and has a screw-coupling i for uniting the parts. The valve j, vwhich is in the valve-case, is an ordinary plug-valve and has a movement equal to a quarter-turn. It contains two ways or passages, as shown, which are of a familiar construction, one serving for a supply of water and the other serving to drain the pipe empty. The plug-valve has an end projecting through the Wall of the case, and a sprocketwheel k is fixed on said end. By turning this wheel one way or the other the valve-passages are brought into the desired position.

Adjacent each discharge-nozzle d e is a sprocket-wheel L, pivoted to a suitable support P. Each wheel has a knob or crankhandle m to facilitate turning. An endless connection is made between each of these sprocket-wheels and one of the lower sprocketwheels k on the shank end of the valve. Thus by turning the sprocket-wheel L adjacent the nozzle the controlling-valve below is operated. In this way water may be drawn to supply the bowl B, and when the wheel is turned to out oft the iiowing water communication is at once established between the nozzle-pipe and the waste-pipe C', and the said nozzlepipe is thereby emptied. In the present instance the connection between the upper sprocket- IOC wheel L and the lower one vcomprises a short Y chain n about each sprocket and two wires or rods o o', connecting these chains, thus forming the equivalent of an endless chain.

The washbowl is only by way of illustration. The system is to be used for tubs, sinks, or any other special purpose.

This system is also applicable to fire-plugs or sprinklers.

Any number of distributing-pipes may be attached to the manifold.

It will thus be seen that by my invention the water-distributing pipes throughout the house are emptied every time water isdrawn,A and all of said pipes are thus kept dry, except at the time it is desired to draw water. This arrangement prevents any drip of Water into the washbowl and prevents freezing of the pipes and avoids leakage and consequent damage to walls, plastering, and property.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- The improved system for water-distributing pipes in houses, consisting of the combination of the lower supply-pipe for hot or cold e5 to the main waste-pipe; a single controlling- 35 valve in said valve-case and movable therein to turn the water on, cut it off, and open com munication with the drain-tube; and an endless-chain connection from a point nearV the said always-open nozzle to the said controlling-valve for operating the latter.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD VALTER GILES.'

Vitnesses:

CHARLES B. MANN, J r., CHAPIN A. FERGUSON. 

